George Street traffic changes: Have your say

THE public is being given a chance to help shape the future of George Street.

An open day tomorrow will let people meet the designers working on a long-term vision for the famous thoroughfare.

Traders and residents will also be able to give their views on a controversial year-long trial in the street, which has seen the introduction of a dedicated two-way cycle lane and a one-way system for general traffic and buses.

And they will then be able to suggest ideas for a permanent layout.

The city’s transport convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “Throughout this trial we have involved the public to ensure changes take into account the users of the street, and I think that’s reflected in the positive feedback we’ve received along the way.

“Now, as the trial draws to a close, we want to include those who live, work and travel on George Street to help us decide its future, and that’s why it’s so important that people come along to our open day to give their views on a long-term plan.

“Making the city centre a great place to be is about striking a balance between work and leisure, practicality and atmosphere – and I think that by working together we can achieve that.”

The trial has already seen consultations with traders as well as on-street interviews with around 100 passers-by a month.

The council said that amongst the findings were the importance of cycling facilities to the future of the street, the need for George Street to be accessible to all and the preference for symmetry in any long-term designs.

Consultant Ironside Farrar has been appointed until October 2015 to turn the mass of information gleaned into design principles and these principles will be presented with the concluding report on the George Street Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) to councillors in November.

The George Street ETRO finishes on September 6 when the street’s layout will revert to that of pre-September 2014. This means both sides of carriageway will be open and the cycle lane removed, as will all marquees and decking.

The open day will be held at the Roxburghe Hotel tomorrow from 3pm to 7pm, with the drop-in session featuring four themes for George Street: A Civic Place, A Place for Living, A Place for Enterprise and A Place for Movement.